r/literaturenerds

[…]
In mist or cloud, on mast or shroud,
It perched for vespers nine;
Whiles all the night, through fog-smoke white,
Glimmered the white Moon-shine.'

'God save thee, ancient Mariner!
From the fiends, that plague thee thus!—
Why look'st thou so?'—With my cross-bow
I shot the ALBATROSS.

In the celebrated ballad The rime of the ancient mariner, Coleridge explores the mystical voyage told by a prophet-like mariner, warning a wedding guest and thus humanity, about the risks of challenging nature.

But what lead the mariner to this terrible action? Was it pride, thirst of power or hubris?
I am not sure whether the text specifies it or not, what do you guys think?